JP4402555B2 - Paper sheet feeding storage - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stage on which sheets stacked in the vertical direction are placed and movable in the vertical direction, stage driving means for driving the stage in the vertical direction, and paper sheets stacked on the stage. A pair of width-adjusting guides arranged so as to sandwich the opposing side surfaces and aligning the paper sheets, and the uppermost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets provided above the stacked paper sheets The present invention relates to a paper sheet feeding and storing unit having a paper sheet feeding and storing means for feeding a sheet and storing the paper sheet conveyed from the outside on the stacked paper sheet.

In an image forming apparatus such as a cash processing apparatus (ATM, CD) or a copying machine, there is a paper sheet feeding storage for storing paper sheets, stacking the stored paper sheets, and feeding the stacked paper sheets. Provided.
Here, the structure of a general cash processing apparatus is shown in FIG. In addition, in the automatic teller machine (ATM) which is a kind of cash processing apparatus, there is a model that handles coins in addition to banknotes, but in this example, only banknote handling is targeted.

  The banknote processing unit 101 takes in a banknote as a paper sheet inserted into the deposit / withdrawal unit 102 when the user deposits money, and on the other hand, when the user withdraws the money, the deposit / withdrawal unit 102 receives the amount of money to be paid. The banknote is paid out. A cash cassette 103 is a cassette in which a person in charge of a financial institution packs cash for payment. The reject box 104 is a unit that collects banknotes (fake bills, damaged banknotes, etc.) that are not determined to be genuine in the banknote processing unit 101. The card processing unit 105 is means for processing a cash card. The passbook processing unit 106 is means for printing the transaction details on the deposit and saving passbook. The operation panel 107 is a means for a user to input information necessary for a transaction such as a deposit / withdrawal instruction, a personal identification number, an amount, and a transfer destination. The control unit 108 is a unit that controls each unit in the cash processing apparatus and performs data communication with a computer in the headquarters of the financial institution.

Next, the structure of the banknote processing unit 101 in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.
The banknote processing unit 101 is a recycling type in which banknotes deposited for effective use of banknotes are reused for payment at the time of withdrawal. A stacker 110 as a paper sheet feeding storage is a means for temporarily storing the deposited banknote 111 and the banknote 111 to be withdrawn. A plurality of stackers 110 are mounted in the banknote processing unit 101 by denomination. The stacker 110 has paper sheet feeding and storing means 113 for storing banknotes 111 in the stacker 110, separating the banknotes 111 stacked in the stacker 110 one by one, and feeding them to the transport path 112. Is provided. There is a point for switching the destination of the banknote at the branch portion of the transport path 112 for transporting the banknote. Paper sheet feeding and storing means 113 is also provided below the deposit / withdrawal unit 102 and the cash cassette 103. The discrimination unit 114 discriminates the number, authenticity, denomination, and the like of banknotes conveyed from the stacker 110 and the deposit / withdrawal unit 102. Banknotes that are not determined to be genuine by the discrimination unit 114 are stored in the reject box 104. When the number of banknotes in the stacker 110 decreases, banknotes are appropriately replenished from the cash cassette 103.

The flow of banknotes in the banknote processing unit 101 is shown below.
(1) At the time of deposit: deposit / withdrawal unit 102 → conveying path 112 → discriminating unit 114 → conveying path 112 → stacker 110
(2) During withdrawal: stacker 110 → conveyance path 112 → discriminating section 114 → conveyance path 112 → payment / withdrawal section 102
(3) During replenishment: cash cassette 103 → conveying path 112 → stacker 110
The structure of the stacker 110 used in such a cash processor will be described with reference to FIG. 201 is a stage on which banknotes 111 are stacked and movable in the banknote stacking direction (arrow direction). The stage 201 is driven in the stacking direction of the bills 111 by a stage driving means (not shown).

  A pair of width-adjusting guides 203 and 205 are provided along the stacking direction of the banknotes 111 so as to sandwich the opposite side surfaces 111a and 111b of the banknotes 111 stacked on the stage 201 and align the banknotes 111. ing.

  Further, above the stacked banknotes 111, the banknotes 111 stacked on the stage 201 are fed out, and the paper sheet feeding and storing means 113 for storing the banknotes 111 conveyed from the outside so as to be stacked on the stage 201 is stored. Is provided.

As a width adjusting guide for aligning such stacked paper sheets, it is described as “side fence” in Patent Document 1 below.
JP-A-5-132240 (FIGS. 1 to 4)

  However, slope portions 203a and 205a are formed above the width adjusting guides 203 and 205 of the stacker 110 configured as shown in FIG. 9 so that the distance between the width adjusting guides 203 and 205 gradually increases as the distance from the stage 201 increases. Sometimes. By providing the slopes 203a and 205a, when the banknote 111 is stored, the banknote 111 that is not aligned is lowered while sliding on one of the slopes 203a and 205a. Thus, the banknote 111 is aligned. More specifically, the banknote 111 is aligned by the horizontal component of the force acting on the slopes 203a and 205a when descending while sliding on one of the slopes 203a and 205a.

  However, in the case of storing the banknote 111, the force acting on the slopes 203a and 205a is only the weight of the banknote 111, and there is a problem in that the banknote 111 that is not aligned is generated because the horizontal component of alignment is small.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet feeding storage that can reduce misalignment of paper sheets.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stage on which paper sheets stacked in the vertical direction are placed, movable in the vertical direction, stage driving means for driving the stage in the vertical direction, and stacked on the stage. A pair of width-adjusting guides provided to sandwich the opposing side surfaces of the paper sheets and aligning the paper sheets, and the first of the stacked paper sheets provided above the stacked paper sheets. In the paper sheet feeding and storing unit, the paper sheet feeding and storing means for feeding the upper paper sheets and storing the paper sheets conveyed from the outside on the stacked paper sheets. At least one width adjusting guide of the width adjusting guides has a substantially horizontal axis on a substantially horizontal axis on a surface substantially parallel to the surface of the stacked paper sheets facing the width adjusting guide. A movable width adjusting guide that is rotatable at the center. The movable width adjusting guide is driven into two states: a feeding state in which the distance between the width adjusting guides gradually decreases as the distance from the stage increases, and a retracted state in which the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides gradually increases from the stage. When feeding out the sheet from the stage and the width adjusting guide driving means, the stage driving means is driven so that the stage is raised, and the width guide is set in the extended state. When driving the guide guide driving means and storing paper sheets on the stage, the stage driving means is driven so that the stage is lowered, and the width guide guide is in the storage state. And a control unit that drives the guide guide driving unit.

  When feeding out the paper sheets from the stage, the control unit drives the stage driving means so that the stage is raised, and drives the width adjusting guide so that the width adjusting guide is in a feeding state. Drive means.

When the stage rises, the paper sheets rise while sliding on the movable width adjusting guide. At this time, the sheets are aligned by the horizontal component of the force acting on the movable width adjusting guide.
When storing the paper sheets on the stage, the control unit drives the stage driving unit so that the stage descends, and the width adjusting guide driving unit causes the width adjusting guide to be stored. Drive.

When the stage is lowered, the paper sheet is lowered while sliding on the movable width adjusting guide. At this time, the sheets are aligned by the horizontal component of the force acting on the movable width adjusting guide.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that both of the pair of width adjusting guides are movable width adjusting guides, and the width adjusting guide driving means drives both of the movable width adjusting guides. This is a paper sheet feeding storage.

  When feeding out the paper sheets from the stage, the control unit drives the stage driving means so that the stage is raised, and the width adjustment is performed so that a pair of movable width adjustment guides is in a feeding state. The guide driving means is driven.

When the stage rises, the paper sheets rise while sliding on the pair of movable width adjusting guides. At this time, the sheets are aligned by the horizontal component of the force acting on the movable width adjusting guide.
When storing the paper sheets on the stage, the control unit drives the stage driving unit so that the stage is lowered, and the width adjusting guides so that the pair of width adjusting guides are stored. Drive the drive means.

When the stage is lowered, the paper sheets are lowered while sliding on the pair of movable width adjusting guides. At this time, the sheets are aligned by the horizontal component of the force acting on the movable width adjusting guide.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the width adjusting guide driving means drives the movable width adjusting guide, the urging means for urging the movable width adjusting guide to either the extended state or the stored state. The paper sheet feeding and storing container according to claim 1, wherein the paper sheet feeding storage is provided.

  When the urging means is energized so that the movable width adjusting guide is in the extended state, the movable width adjusting guide is in the retracted state by driving the solenoid. On the contrary, when the biasing means is biased so that the movable width adjusting guide is in the retracted state, the movable width adjusting guide is in the extended state by driving the solenoid.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a convex portion projecting in the width guide direction is formed on a surface of the stage facing the width guide, and the stage of the width guide is opposed to the stage. 4. The paper sheet feeding and storing container according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion into which the convex portion is fitted is formed.

The width adjusting guides and opposing surfaces of the stage, to form a convex portion protruding in the width adjusting guides direction, the stage and the opposing surfaces of said width adjusting guides protrusions of the stage is the fitting recess As a result, there is no linear gap between the stage and the width adjusting guide.

  According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, at least one of the pair of width adjusting guides has a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction facing the surface of the stacked sheets. A movable width adjusting guide that is rotatable about the substantially horizontal axis above, a feeding state in which the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides gradually decreases as the distance from the stage increases, and the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides is When the sheet is fed out from the stage, the stage is raised when the sheet is fed from the stage, and the width-shifting guide driving means for driving the movable width-shifting guide into the two storage states that gradually increase as the distance from the stage increases. The stage driving means is driven at the same time, and the width adjusting guide driving means is driven so that the width adjusting guide is in the extended state, and the sheets are stored in the stage. Comprises a control means for driving the stage drive means so that the stage is lowered and for driving the width guide guide means so that the width guide is stored. The paper sheets are aligned twice during storage and at the time of feeding. Therefore, it is possible to reduce misalignment of paper sheets as compared with the conventional paper sheet alignment only during storage.

  Further, when the paper sheet is stored, the weight of the paper sheet becomes a force for aligning the paper sheet, but when the paper sheet is fed out, the ascending force of the stage becomes a force for aligning the paper sheet. Since the lifting force of the stage can be set to be larger than the weight of the paper sheet, when the paper sheet is fed out, a larger positioning force can be obtained than when the paper sheet is stored, and the paper sheet is poorly aligned. Can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, both of the pair of width adjusting guides are movable width adjusting guides, and the width adjusting guide driving means moves only one of them by driving both of the movable width adjusting guides. Compared with the case of using the width adjusting guide, it is possible to reduce misalignment of the paper sheets.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the width adjusting guide driving means drives the movable width adjusting guide, the urging means for urging the movable width adjusting guide to either the extended state or the stored state. By having the solenoid to be operated, the solenoid can be driven only at the time of storing or feeding, and the durability of the apparatus is improved.

According to the invention according to claim 4, on the surface of the stage facing the width adjusting guide, a convex portion protruding in the width adjusting guide direction is formed, and on the surface of the width adjusting guide facing the stage, By forming the concave portion into which the convex portion of the stage is fitted, there is no linear gap between the stage and the width adjusting guide. Therefore, it is possible to prevent paper sheets from being caught in the gap between the stage and the width adjusting guide.

This embodiment is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bill feeding storage (stacker) provided in a cash processing apparatus.
First, the mechanical configuration of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a bill 5 stacked in the vertical direction is placed in the bill feeding storage 1 and is provided with a stage 5 that can be moved in the vertical direction while being guided by a guide (not shown). The stage 5 is driven in the vertical direction by the stage driving means 7. The stage driving means 7 of the present embodiment includes a belt connected to the stage 5 that is wound around the upper pulley 9 provided at the upper part of the banknote feeding storage 1 and the lower pulley 11 provided at the lower part, and the upper pulley 9 and the lower pulley 11. 13 and a motor 15 for driving the lower pulley 11. The stage 5 moves up and down by rotating the motor 15 in the forward and reverse directions.

  Above the stacked banknotes 3, banknote feeding and storing means 21 is provided for feeding the top banknotes of the stacked banknotes 3 and storing the banknotes conveyed from the outside on the stacked banknotes 3. Yes.

  Here, the bill feeding and storing means 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is an arrow view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. In the figure, the bill feeding and storing means 21 has a pick roller 23 that feeds the top banknote 3 by rotating in a state in which the top banknote of the stacked banknotes 3 can abut. Have. Further, the large-diameter feed roller 25 and three small-diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30 that come into contact with the large-diameter feed roller 25 are sandwiched and conveyed by the large-diameter feed roller 25 and the small-diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30. It has a roller set.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, by rotating a roller set composed of a large diameter feed roller 25 and three small diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30 in contact with the large diameter feed roller 25 in the direction of the arrow, A bill 3 coming from the outside can be stored in the bill feeding storage 1. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 3B, the stage 5 is raised, the stacked banknotes 3 are brought into contact with the pick roller 23, and the pick roller 23, the large diameter feed roller 25, and the large diameter feed roller 25 are When a roller set composed of three small diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30 in contact with each other is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the uppermost banknote of the stacked banknotes 3 is fed out by the pick roller 23, and subsequently the large diameter feed roller 25. , The paper money 3 is fed out by being nipped and conveyed by a roller set including three small-diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30 in contact with the large-diameter feed roller 25.

Returning to FIG. 1, movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are provided so as to sandwich the opposing side surfaces 3 a and 3 b of the banknotes 3 stacked on the stage 5.
The movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are substantially parallel to the surface of the stacked paper sheets 3 (side surfaces 3a and 3b) opposite to the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33. It is rotatable about substantially horizontal axes 31a and 33a.

  The pair of movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are extended by the width adjusting guide driving means 41 so that the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides 31 and 33 gradually decreases as the distance from the stage 5 increases (the state shown in FIG. 2). The width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are driven into two states, that is, a storage state (state shown in FIG. 1) that gradually increases as the distance from the stage 5 increases. The width adjusting guide driving means 41 according to the present embodiment includes follower links 47 and 49 whose upper end side is rotatably attached to the lower part of the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 using pins 43 and 45, and vertically. A solenoid 51 having a spindle 53 that advances and retreats, and a drive link 59 that is attached to the spindle 53 and that is connected to the lower ends of the driven links 47 and 49 on both ends. The driven links 47 and 49 and the drive link 59 are connected to the elongated holes 55 and 57 formed on both ends of the drive link 55 in the sliders 65 and 57 provided at the lower ends of the driven links 47 and 49, respectively. 67 is movably engaged. The movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 have springs 61 and 63 whose one ends are locked to the upper portions of the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 and whose other ends are locked to the frame side (not shown) of the banknote feeding storage 1. The movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are urged so as to be in the extended state (the state shown in FIG. 2).

  Accordingly, when the solenoid 51 is driven and the spindle 49 is moved backward while the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are extended, the drive link 59 is lowered, and the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are shown in FIG. It becomes the main shaft back state shown in FIG.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6 which shows the cross section along the cutting line BB in FIG. The portion 5a is formed, and the concave portions 31b and 33b into which the convex portions 5a of the stage 5 are fitted are formed on the surfaces of the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 facing the stage 5, and the stage 5 and the movable width adjusting guide 31, 33 so that there is no linear gap.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the banknote payout storage of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 71 denotes a control unit that takes in a deposit signal and a withdrawal signal and controls the stage driving means 7, the width adjusting guide driving means 41, and the bill feeding and storing means 21.

  Here, the operation of the control unit 71 will be described with reference to FIG. The movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 of the bill feeding storage 1 are in the feeding state shown in FIG. 2 when the solenoid 51 is not energized by the biasing force of the springs 61 and 63.

  The control unit 71 waits until a deposit signal or a withdrawal signal is input (steps 1 and 2). When the deposit signal is input, the control unit 71 drives the solenoid 51 of the width adjusting guide driving means 41, and the control is performed as shown in FIG. The stored state is shown (step 3). Then, a depositing operation is performed (step 4). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the bill feeding and storing means 21 includes a large-diameter feed roller 25 and a roller set including three small-diameter feed rollers 27, 29, and 30 that are in contact with the large-diameter feed roller 25. By rotating in the direction of the arrow, the banknote 3 (banknote 3 to be deposited) coming from the outside of the banknote feeding storage 1 is stored in the banknote feeding storage 1. Further, the stage 15 is lowered by driving the motor 15 of the stage driving means 7 in accordance with the amount of the bills 3 stacked on the stage 5. The banknote 3 is aligned by the effect of the stage 5. When the deposit is completed (step 5), the series of operations is stopped.

  On the other hand, when a withdrawal signal is input, a withdrawal operation is performed (step 6). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the bill feeding and storing means 21 is driven by the motor 15 of the stage driving means 7 to raise the stage 5, and the stacked banknotes 3 are applied to the pick roller 23. Make contact. At this time, the banknote 3 is aligned. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), a roller set consisting of a pick roller 23, a large diameter feed roller 25, and three small diameter feed rollers 27, 29, 30 in contact with the large diameter feed roller 25 is rotated in the direction of the arrow. The bills 3 are fed out one by one to the outside of the bill feeding storage 1. When the withdrawal is completed (step 7), the series of operations is stopped.

According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The banknote 3 is aligned two times, when the banknote 3 is deposited (stored) and when the banknote 3 is dispensed (during delivery). Therefore, the poor alignment of the banknote 3 can be reduced as compared with the conventional alignment of the banknote 3 only when depositing (stored).

  (2) When the banknote 3 is deposited (stored), the weight of the banknote 3 becomes a force for aligning the banknote 3, but when the banknote 3 is withdrawn (during delivery), the ascending force of the stage 5 is increased. It becomes the force which aligns the banknote 3. And since it is possible to set the raising force of the stage 5 larger than the dead weight of the banknote 3, when the banknote 3 is withdrawn (at the time of delivery), a larger positioning force is obtained than at the time of deposit (at the time of accommodation). It is possible to reduce misalignment of the banknote 3.

  (3) Both of the pair of width adjusting guides are movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33, and the width adjusting guide driving means 41 drives both the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 so that only one of them is movable width adjusting. Compared with the case of using a guide, poor alignment of the banknote 3 can be reduced.

  (4) The width adjusting guide driving means 41 includes springs (biasing means) 61 and 63 for urging the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 to the extended state, and a solenoid 51 for driving the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33. Thus, the solenoid 51 can be driven only when depositing (stored), and the durability of the apparatus is improved.

(5) the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 and opposing surfaces of the stage 5, to form a convex portion 5a protruding movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 direction faces the stage 5 of the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 By forming concave portions 31b and 33b into which the convex portion 5a of the stage 5 is fitted on the surface so that there is no linear gap between the stage 5 and the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33, the bill 3 Can be prevented from being caught in the gap between the stage 5 and the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to the bill feeding storage of the cash processing apparatus, it can also be applied to a sheet feeding storage of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. In addition, although both of the width adjusting guides are movable width adjusting guides of the pair of width adjusting guides, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by using at least one of the width adjusting guides as a movable width adjusting guide.

  Further, the springs 61 and 63 of the width adjusting guide driving means 41 urge the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 to the extended state, but conversely, the movable width adjusting guides 31 and 33 are set to the retracted state. You may make it urge. In this case, the solenoid 51 is driven at the time of withdrawal (when paying out).

It is a figure explaining the mechanical structure of the banknote feeding storage of the example. It is a figure explaining the delivery state in FIG. It is a figure explaining the banknote feeding accommodation means of FIG. 1, and is an arrow line view of the arrow A direction of FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the electrical structure of the banknote feeding storage of the example. It is a flowchart explaining the action | operation of the control part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross section in the cutting line BB of FIG. It is a block diagram of a cash processing apparatus. It is a block diagram of the banknote processing unit of FIG. It is a figure explaining the stacker of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bill feeding storage 3 Banknote 5 Stage 7 Stage drive means 31, 33 Movable width alignment guide 41 Width alignment guide drive means 71 Control part

Claims (4)

A stage on which sheets stacked in the vertical direction are placed and movable in the vertical direction;
Stage driving means for driving the stage in the vertical direction;
A pair of width-adjusting guides provided so as to sandwich the opposing side surfaces of the paper sheets stacked on the stage, and aligning the paper sheets;
Provided above the stacked paper sheets, feed the uppermost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets, and store the paper sheets conveyed from the outside on the stacked paper sheets A paper sheet feeding and storing means;
In a paper sheet feeding storage cabinet having
At least one width adjusting guide of the pair of width adjusting guides has a substantially horizontal portion on a surface substantially parallel to the surface of the stacked paper sheets facing the width adjusting guide. It is a movable width adjustment guide that can rotate around the axis of
The movable width adjusting guide is in two states, a feeding state where the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides gradually decreases as the distance from the stage increases, and a storage state where the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides gradually increases as the distance between the pair of width adjusting guides increases from the stage. Width adjusting guide driving means for driving;
When feeding out the paper sheets from the stage, the stage driving means is driven so that the stage is raised, and the width adjusting guide driving means is driven so that the width adjusting guide is in an extended state. When storing paper sheets on the stage, the stage driving means is driven so that the stage is lowered, and the width adjusting guide driving means is driven so that the width adjusting guide is in the storing state. Control means;
A paper sheet feeding storage, characterized by comprising: Both of the pair of width adjusting guides are movable width adjusting guides,
2. The paper sheet feeding and storing container according to claim 1, wherein the width adjusting guide driving means drives both of the movable width adjusting guides. The width adjusting guide driving means includes:
An urging means for urging the movable width adjusting guide to either the extended state or the stored state;
A solenoid for driving the movable width adjusting guide;
The paper sheet feeding storage case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paper sheet feeding storage case is provided. On the surface of the stage facing the width adjusting guide, a convex portion protruding in the width adjusting guide direction is formed,
The paper sheet feeding and storing container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a concave portion into which the convex portion of the stage is fitted is formed on a surface of the width adjusting guide facing the stage.

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